Support device for frames,decorative elements and false ceilings



G. FORNELLS Jul zl, 1970 SUPPORT DEVICE FOR FRAMES, DECORATIVE ELEMENTS AND FALSE cEILINGs Filed May 9, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I III G. FORNELLS 3,521,419

ECORATIVE ELEMENTS AND FALSE CEILINGS July 21 19 70 SUPPORT DEVICE FOR FRAMES, 1)

Filed May 9, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 r R Q N MN km WM H W \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\wm\ mm mm mm United States Patent "ice 3,521,419 SUPPORT DEVICE FOR FRAMES, DECORATIVE ELEMENTS AND FALSE CEILINGS Gilbert Fornells, 38 Rue Stendhal, Paris 20, France Filed May 9, 1968, Ser. No. 727,839 Claims priority, application grance, May 10, 1967,

9 Int. Cl. E04c 2/38; E04f 13/08, 19/02 US. Cl. 52-506 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An objective of this invention is to provide a supporting assembly whereby the supported elements are readily mounted and dismounted but the assembly remains rigid throughout.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a supporting assembly for receiving supported panels by cooperating self-locking elements. The invention provides for the convenient mounting of elements whether interiorly or exteriorly of different format such as frame moldings for advertising panels, showcases, doors and windows, wall cornices, dropped ceilings and moldings.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the support device utilized to receive a decorative element such as a frame molding for an advertising panel;

FIG. 2 is a section along line IIII of FIG. 1, drawn on a larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a section showing a modification of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross section view showing the support device utilized as a support for a dropped ceiling; and

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are cross sections showing further modifications.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements indicate like parts, a support device comprises a guide rail 1, constituted by a shaped element 2 made of metal or of thermoplastic material whose longitudinal edges 3 are bent to form a slide. The shaped element 2 is also provided with a series of oblong holes 4 which allow positioning a fixation of the shaped element by screwing for example to an existing surface 5 against which guide rail 1 is to be applied.

The rail slidably received a number of support elements 6 which may be of thermoplastic material for example. Dovetail edges 7 of the support elements fit under the bent over edges. The support elements present lateral projections 8 which, after engagement of the support elements 6 to the rail, are located adjacent edges 3. The support elements are formed with a series of holes 9 for detachably joining the support elements to the guide rail while the whole assembly is fixed on surface 5 by screws 10. Each of the screws also goes through a corresponding hole 4 of the guide rail, as seen best in FIG. 2. Crosspieces 11 are disposed between the guide rail and surface 5 to provide a space 12 for the housing of cables and electric conduits.

Decorative elements 13 (which in the illustrated ex- 3,521,419 Patented July 21, 1970 ample of FIG. 1 constitutes a frame molding for an advertising panel) are presented as a metallic or plastic shaped element whose longitudinal edges are formed with grooves 14 for self-locking action on the several lateral projections 8 of the supports 6. An assembly with sufiicient rigidity is thus obtained.

In the modification of FIG. 3, the guide rail comprises two narrow strips 15 each having a longitudinal edge 16 bent over to form a slide for receiving their support elements. Narrow strips 15- are secured to the existing surface 5 by screws 17. Crosspieces 18 and a plate 19 of variable width having oblong holes detachably join the strips 15. By the interposition of crosspieces 21, a space 22 is established which is analogous to the space 12 of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a support device utilized to support a dropped ceiling formed of juxtaposed panels 23. Here guide rails 25 include a narrow strip 26 fixed to a beam 24 at regular spacings. The longitudinal edges 27 of the strips are bent to form a slide in which support elements 28 are received. The support elements 28 are provided with projections 29 to receive panels 23 to constitute the dropped ceiling. On its longitudinal edges each panel is formed with grooves 30 which are self-locking with projections 29.

Elements 31 impart increased rigidity to the assembly formed by panels 23. The support elements 28 are engaged between the longitudinal sides 32 of the panels. The elements 31 are held by a trough-like structure 33 which enters into locking engagement in recesses 34 formed in longitudinal sides 32.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of embodiment in which the panels 23 are assembled without use of the elements 31.

FIG. 6 shows another modification in which each guide rail comprises a narrow strip 35 fixed on beam 24. Each beam presents at its mid-part two surfaces 36 and 37 which are of opposed inclination. The support elements 38 are thus slidably received by the surfaces 36 and 37. The elements present projections 29 to which the decorative pieces are attached.

In FIG. 7, which illustrates another modification, each guide rail comprises a plate 39 fixed on beam 24, the longitudinal edges present grooves 40 in which projections 41 are slidably engaged. The projections cooperate with grooves 30 of panels 23 and are made of a material whose flexibility ensures their retention in grooves 40 and thus the holding of panels 23 after they have been set in place.

In the examples of FIGS. 4 to 7, panels 23 define between themselves and beam 24 a space 42 for the housing of cables or electric conduits.

These embodiments further provide ready disassembly of one of panels 23 which constitute the dropped ceiling.

strips 15-26-35 and in plates 39 allow adaption of the guide rail to any established or new surface to be equipped. The holes 4 impart great flexibility to shaped element 2, strips 15-26-35 and plate 39.

The easy and quick disassembly of the various elements that constitute the support device allows improved maintenance thereof because of ready access to all the said elements. It is possible moreover to take into account requirements of illumination, ventilation and sound proofing.

As can be seen from the above, the invention provides a support for various decorative elements constituted by juxtaposed panels, particularly of thermoplastic material, as well as means for mounting and affixing the support to an existing wall.

The invention also extends to embodiments having at least one of the following characteristics:

(a) A guide rail comprising a shaped element whose longitudinal edges are bent over to form a slide.

(b) A shaped element constituting a guide rail which is provided with a series of oblong holes to allow the positioning and fixation of a guide rail thereto.

(c) An actual support element that engages the bent over edges of a guide rail by sliding or by bending are provided with lateral projections to present, after positioning the support elements in the guide rail, a means near the bent-over longitudinal edges for the reception of panels.

(d) A support element presenting a series of holes allowing rigid detachable connection to the guide rail by matching of oblong holes in the said rail whereby the assembly can be oriented to the existing surface.

(e) Decorative elements of ditferent forms for attachment associated with a support element that is joined detachably to a guide rail which is provided on its longitudinal edge with grooves intended to engage with selflocking action on the lateral projections on the true support elements.

(f) A guide rail of two narow strips, one of whose longitudinal edges is bent to form a slide.

(g) Two narrow strips that constitute a guide rail are fixed on an existing surface.

(h) Two narrow strips constituting a guide rail and are removably joined by means of a plate of variable width that permits modification as desired of the distance between the two narrow strips and consequently of the width of the guide rail and said plate being provided with oblong holes that permits its positioning and fixation on an existing surface against which the guide rail is to be applied.

(i) A guide rail constituted by a single narrow strip whose longitudinal edges are bent to form a slide.

(j) An actual support element that is slidably received in a guide rail and is provided with projections on which panels can be affixed.

(k) Elements impart sufliciently rigidity to the assembly formed by the panels constituting the dropped ceiling are engaged between the several longitudinal walls of the said panels in which they are held by self-locking action.

(1) A guide rail is constituted by a narrow strip that presents two sloped opposing surfaces in its median part for allowing the sliding of a support element therein.

(m) A guide rail comprising a plate whose longitudinal edges present grooves in which there are slidably engaged a projection to cooperate with the longitudinal grooves of a group of panels to form a dropped ceiling. The projections are constituted of a flexible material to ensure retention of the panels after they have been locked thereto.

(11) Crosspiece spacers disposed between the guide rail and the existing surface against which the said rail is to be applied for developing cable space to meet requirements of house cables, electric conduits, etc.

In a general manner, while there has been disclosed an effective and efiicient embodiment of the invention, it should be Well understood that the invention is not limited to such embodiment, as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition, and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A supporting asembly for attachment to an existing surface comprising a support member,

a guide rail,

longitudinal edges formed on said rail to provide a slideway for the reception of said member whereby said member is positionable along said rail,

securing means securing said member to said rail at a selected position along said rail, said securing means being removable to permit said member to be shifted to another selected position along said rail,

a panel,

interengaging means between said panel and said support member securing said panel to said member, and

adjusting means for permitting adjustment of the distance between said two edges, said adjusting means comprising a removable plate spanning the distance between said edges whereby plates of different widths may be substituted.

2. A supporting assembly for attachment to an existing surface comprising a support member,

a guide rail,

longitudinal edges formed on said rail-to provide a slideway for the reception of said member whereby said member is positionable along said rail,

said guide rail having a series of oblong holes throughout its length having their grestest axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rail and said support member having apertures which are alignable with said holes as said member slides with respect to said rail,

securing means securing said member to said rail at a selected position along said rail, said securing means being removable to permit said member to be shifted to another selected position along said rail,

said securing means extending through said oblong holes and apertures to aflix said rail and support member to said existing surface,

a panel,

interengaging means between said panel and said support member securing said panel to said memher.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said interengaging means is a self-locking separable fastener comprising projections interfitting into a clasping groove.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,980,347 11/1934 Mi ler 52P290 2,226,679 12/ L940 Walters '52545 2,271,924 2/ 1942 Nielsen 52-512 2,867,301 1/1959 Benton 52--220 3,073,068 1/ 1963 Slowinski 52--242 3,209,503 10/ 1965 Mostoller 52545 3,230,652 1/1966 McNair 52-7l7 3,347,009 10/1-967 Meddick 52545 3,387,415 6/1968 McFarlane 527l6 3,405,493 10/1968 Ornholt 5248O 2,683,506 7/1954 Immel 40140 2,795,876 6/ 1957 Hayes 40-143 2,891,337 6/1959 BTeslaW 40 l40 3,043,404 7/ 1962 Kremer 52-633 HENRY C. SUTI-IERLAND, Primary Examiner US. Cl. XJR. 52-386, 717 

